An official ground-breaking ceremony for the new Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering was held Wednesday, March 30 at the site of the school in West Greeley.

The new preschool-8th grade academy is named after Bob and Betty Tointon, who have been strong supporters of public education in Greeley and Evans. Construction of the school is being funded through the 2019 Bond Issue approved by voters. This is the first new non-charter school—that is not a replacement school—to be built in District 6 in 20 years.

“The Tointon’s support of public education has been nothing short of heroic,” says Greeley-Evans School District 6 Superintendent Deirdre Pilch. “I am proud and honored that Bob Tointon agreed to allow his family’s name to be used for this new school.”

Bob Tointon started the Student Recovery Program in District 6, which created a mentoring and tutoring program for Latino males not on track to graduate high school. The Tointons also supported the first blended learning pilot program at Bella Romero Academy K-8 school, which ultimately resulted in blended learning being implemented district-wide.

In 1995, a gift from Bob and Betty Tointon helped fund the Tointon Institute for Educational Change at the University of Northern Colorado. The Institute has since provided high-quality leadership training to K-12 administrators and teacher leaders throughout the state. 

The Tointons were also great champions of both the 2017 Mill Levy Override election and the 2019 Bond election, the latter of which resulted in District 6 being able to construct this new school, a new Greeley West High School, a new Madison Elementary School, a major addition and renovation of McAuliffe STEM Academy K-8 and Chappelow Arts Magnet K-8, as well as safety improvements and renovations at all District 6 schools.

The Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering is an approximately 142,000-square-foot, $60 million school and is located off 71st Avenue between 10th Street and 4th Street. The school was designed by the DLR Group and is being constructed by Roche Constructors of Greeley.

Two District 6 students named Daniels Fund Scholars

Two Greeley-Evans School District 6 seniors who will graduate in May have been notified they will receive the prestigious Daniels Scholarship.

Paid for through the Daniels Fund, a private foundation started by entrepreneur and cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, these scholarships cover four years of tuition and fees, room and board, books and miscellaneous educational expenses for scholars who attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. The scholarship pays up to $25,000 per year toward the students’ unmet need, after applying the Expected Family Contribution, as well as scholarships and financial aid.

The District 6 Daniels Scholarship recipients for 2021 are:

  • Alexandria Joy Sherman-Sutton of Greeley Central High School
  • Yovahn Adrian Quinones of Greeley West High School

 More than 2,000 students applied for Daniels Scholarships this year. The foundation awarded 136 scholarships in Colorado this year.

 The Daniels Fund awards scholarships are based not only on academic success, but on the character, leadership qualities and commitment to contributing to the community exhibited by students.

“I am very proud of the two District 6 students who will receive the Daniels Fund scholarship next year. This is a very competitive scholarship and District 6 students have a strong history of being named Daniels Fund Scholars,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “These students have worked hard to achieve their goals and this scholarship will help them realize their dreams. Thank you, too, to the parents, educators and staff who have supported them in their successful application.”

Last year, three District 6 students received Daniels scholarships. Over the past 15 years, 103 District 6 scholars have received this competitive award. Since the program was launched in 2000, the Daniels fund has awarded more than $204 million in scholarships to more than 4,350 recipients.